Work Together, Aim High, Shine Bright

Sports Coaching

To ensure the children receive the best possible sport and PE experience at St Matthew’s we employ expert, professional coaches to work with all the children and staff. Children are introduced at an early age to structured PE and this allows us to identify those who are more capable and challenge them through a variety of differentiated activities and sports.

The school offers a wide variety of extra-curricular sports clubs. Our school enters as many competitions as we can so that the more able children, regardless of the sport, have the opportunity to compete against other schools. Success in these competitions allows them to compete at town and then county level.

We also develop pathways for the children so that they are able to continue and improve their skills at clubs outside the school. We have a number of children who now train at the town’s athletic club, the local cricket clubs, football and rugby clubs and some who participate in weekly netball matches. The school also allows those children who participate at a higher level of sport, time away from school to train.

The school is also an active participant in a More Able and Talented cluster group, which organises a variety of opportunities, including sporting activities, for MA&T children, for example children have taken part in tennis days organised by David Lloyd Leisure.

Our Year 6’s are trained up to become sport leaders by our sports coach, Dave Earndon. As part of their development they run a sports festival, which is designed, developed and created by them. Events have included a number of whole school sport challenge festivals, KS1 orienteering competitions and the Sport Relief festival and 1 mile run.

Finally, we encourage all of the children to share their sporting achievements in a weekly celebration assembly and end of year sports celebration.